Ogun Govt Faces Criticism Over Lack Of Transparency In N1bn Grant Distribution
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The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed deep concern over what the party perceives as the Ogun state government’s lack of transparency in running the affairs of the state.
The criticism comes in response to the announcement made by the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeola Sofela, on Monday, November 20, 2023, regarding the commencement of the second phase of the distribution of 1 billion naira operational grants to Micro and Small Scale Enterprises.
In a press statement released today, Asiwaju Akinloye Bankole, Publicity Secretary of the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), highlighted the PDP’s acknowledgment of the importance of supporting businesses through grants. However, he raised eyebrows at the timing of the announcement, considering the absence of a detailed account of how the first phase of distribution was conducted. The party insists that transparency and openness in governance are essential, emphasizing the need for a thorough performance rating and progress reports on the initial phase.
The party challenges the Ogun State House of Assembly, as mentioned by Akinloye Bankole in the statement, to demand a detailed progress report on the first phase of the program, echoing the sentiments of a recent report by the civil Non-Governmental Organisation, BudgIT. According to the report, Ogun State ranks 34th out of the 36 states in Nigeria for Fiscal Transparency in the second quarter of 2023, marking a significant decline from its 13th position in the first quarter.
The PDP accuses Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration of fostering a reputation for dishonesty and fiscal recklessness based on the revealed information about how public resources are raised, spent, and managed. The party contends that the state’s fall in the transparency ranking is a direct result of the government’s alleged preference for conducting governance in secrecy.
Finally, Bankole, in his statement, called on the State House of Assembly to fulfil its duties by demanding accountability. He also urged stakeholders and individuals of goodwill to join in pressuring the government to provide full details of how the first phase of the grant distribution was carried out. The PDP emphasizes that probity and accountability are fundamental principles of responsible governance that should not be compromised.
